Apple Shuts Down Ping, Connects With Facebook

In September 2010, Apple introduced Ping, a social network for music on iTunes. Less than two years later, that iteration of Apple’s social dream is over: iTunes’ forthcoming update will eliminate Ping altogether. Not many people will miss it.

When Ping was launched, Apple brass, which at the time still included the late Steve Jobs, seemed adamant about creating its own mode of sociality for Apple products instead of partnering with external (and overwhelmingly popular) platforms. But times change. Speaking during the May D10 conference, Apple’s CEO Tim Cook commented, rather matter-of-factly: “We tried Ping, and I think the customer voted and said, ‘This isn’t something that I want to put a lot of energy into.’” Then, during the June 11th Worldwide Developers Conference (held in San Francisco), official word came that Apple iOS software would now work with Facebook.

All Things Digital’s Mike Isaac, who covered the WWDC, quoted Scott Forstall, Apple’s senior vice president of iOS Software, saying: “We’ve been working very closely with Facebook to make sure we’ve got the best mobile integration of Facebook around.”

Murmurs and whispers about the Apple/Facebook “hook-up” had been in the tech press for a long time, but it’s only just now happening. Apple did manage to connect its products with Twitter in June 2011.

Read More:

http://allthingsd.com/20120612/apples-ping-to-end-with-a-thud-in-next-release-of-itunes/

http://allthingsd.com/20120611/after-years-of-courtship-apple-and-facebook-finally-hook-up/

RIP Steve Jobs

Today Apple announced on their website that Steve Jobs, ex-CEO and visionary founder of Apple has died at age 56. Jobs was battling pancreatic cancer and resigned his position as CEO about 1.5 months ago.

Apple posted this message on their website:
Apple has lost a visionary and creative genius, and the world has lost an amazing human being. Those of us who have been fortunate enough to know and work with Steve have lost a dear friend and an inspiring mentor. Steve leaves behind a company that only he could have built, and his spirit will forever be the foundation of Apple. If you would like to share your thoughts, memories, and condolences, please email rememberingsteve@apple.com

Facebook’s founder Mark Zuckerberg posted this in his Facebook fan page: “Steve, thank you for being a mentor and a friend. Thanks for showing that what you build can change the world. I will miss you.”

Bill Gates conveyed his sadness, telling AllThingsD: “I will miss Steve immensely.”

All of us here at Submit Express, would like to send our condolences to his family and thank him for all the good he has done to the technology world. You will always be remembered with us.

Twitter Community Sends Get Well Wishes to Apple CEO

Moments after Apple announced on Monday that co-founder and chief executive Steven P. Jobs is taking a medical leave of absence, the Twitter community responded with a slew of get well soon messages. According to Web Pro News, Twitter users have been sending messages via the hashtag #getwellsteve.

In an email to Apple employees released on Monday, Jobs writes “At my request, the board of directors has granted me a medical leave of absence so I can focus on my health. I will continue as CEO and be involved in major strategic decisions for the company.”

Jobs has asked Tim Cook to take over Apple’s day-to-day duties.

“I love Apple so much and hope to be back as soon as I can. In the meantime, my family and I would deeply appreciate respect for our privacy.”

Read more:

www.apple.com/pr/library/2011/01/17advisory.html

www.webpronews.com/topnews/2011/01/17/twitterers-launch-hashtag-wishing-steve-jobs-well

iTunes Ping and Twitter Announce Integration Deal

The iTunes Ping social music service is coming to Twitter, as CNET reports that Apple has inked a deal with Twitter to let users link their Twitter and Ping accounts. Users who post reviews, purchases and other opinions on songs and albums through Ping can now also share that information with their Twitter friends, according to a post on the official Twitter blog announcing the partnership.

“Once you’ve linked the accounts, whenever you post, like, review, or tell your friends why you purchased a song or album on Ping, this activity will also be tweeted to your Twitter followers — complete with playable song previews and links to purchase and download music from iTunes,” wrote Twitter Vice President for Business and Corporate Development Kevin Thau.

Ping was a disappointment at launch, largely because it was a social networking tool that lacked integration with either Twitter or Facebook, so this deal helps to close that gap. Apple had originally said that Ping users would eventually be able to sync their accounts with Facebook, but talks surrounding this integration eventually broke down.

Apple Ping Lacks Facebook, Twitter Integration

Apple announced the latest version of its iTunes music player at a press conference earlier this week, including a new music-oriented social network called Ping which is designed to let music fans around the world discover new music. However, you might be disappointed if you want to use it to share music you find on Facebook or Twitter, as it is a closed-loop network which doesn’t allow you to cross-post to either of the two major social media networks.

Many people are saying that this is a fatal flaw of Ping — besides a name that most critics agree is needlessly goofy and very similar to Seesemic’s Ping.fm social network aggregation system. Talks between Apple and Facebook for integration failed and Apple decided to move forward with the release despite not having hooks into the major social media networks.

In a blog post on SocialGo.com, Zennie Abraham pointedly said that the lack of social network integration show that Apple is “slipping”:

“Whatever’s going on over at Apple, it can’t seem to stop tripping over itself of late. If it’s not the name of the iPad being offensive to women, or the iPhone’s antenna issue, or the decision to even name it’s new music based social network Ping, and all of its other problems, Apple doesn’t seem to be thinking it’s product actions through to their logical conclusions.

“At the very least, and in a crowded environment of social networks, Apple had many examples to follow. In Apple’s Ping, the firm doesn’t seem to have learned anything from them, or followed logic.

“If Facebook connectivity is expected, don’t avoid giving it just because, ‘talks fizzled.’ If Facebook was being difficult, it would have been better to broadcast that issue and use it as leverage, either for Facebook to cooperate, or to construct a workaround alternative.

“Instead, it looks like Apple just said, “Screw what we don’t have. Just release it anyway.”

Apple Pulls Ultimate Facebook iPad App from Store

An unofficial Facebook app for the Apple iPad has been removed from the Apple Store for violating Facebook’s trademark, according to The Guardian. Facebook Ultimate had shot into the Top 10 highest-selling apps at the Apple Store this past weekend, with its release coinciding with the debut of Apple’s new handheld computing device. However, Apple removed the app from its store after receiving a complaint from Facebook that it violated “policies around trademark infringement and affiliation.”

Facebook currently does not have an app for the Apple iPad and has not announced a release date for an official app. The company released the following statement about Facebook Ultimate:

“The ‘Facebook Ultimate’ app was a clear violation of Facebook Platform policies around trademark infringement and affiliation, and has since been removed from the App Store by Apple. We ensure that applications that access Facebook user data adhere to Facebook Platform policies. Those applications that do not comply are subject to enforcement which can include disabling or limiting their access to Facebook APIs.”

New Version of LinkedIn for IPhone

LinkedIn today announced that Apple has released LinkedIn for IPhone v3.1, an updated version of the v.3.0 app that was released in December 2009. Available now in the iTunes App Store, the new v3.1 app includes over a dozen small feature enhancements including an easier way to navigate through connections and mark Favorites and the ability to set your status directly from your profile page.

Although LinkedIn is in the process of developing a large number of bigger improvements, the company chose to focus the recent changes primarily on making the application “faster and more stable for people with large networks.”

Since its launch in December 2009, the number of active users of the application has tripled.

Nokia Buys Social Media Sharing Company

Nokia announced today that it has acquired certain assets of Plum Ventures, Inc., a privately held company that specializes in cloud-based social media sharing and message services. According to Nokia, Plum will be responsible for complementing Nokia’s Social Location services.

eWeek.com calls the move by Nokia an attempt to strengthen its mobile application offerings against the likes of Apple, Microsoft and Research in Motion, reporting that it will use the technology to improve its own Ovi Store.

In a post on Plum’s blog, founder Hans Peter Brøndmo said, “We have come a long way since 2004 when we made our first ‘napkin sketch’ on a sailboat. Today, Plum Groups is a service for those of us that want to share the more private parts of our lives with smaller groups of people we are close to such as family and friends. It fills the need for ‘private’ sharing and conversations.”

Although the terms of the acquisition have not been disclosed, Plum reassures its loyal users that it will continue to operate unchanged.